There were three different types of ration cards distributed in India before to the passage and eventual passage of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Above Poverty Line (APL) Ration Card: The NFSA was not yet in effect when the APL card was issued. People who were above the government-defined poverty limit were eligible to receive it. Since there was no minimum annual income requirement, anyone could apply for an APL ration card. These homes received 15 Kg of food grains, depending on supply.

Ration Card for People Below Poverty Line (BPL) –

A household is considered to be below the poverty line if its yearly income is less than 27,000 INR. They receive 25–25 kg of feeding grains.

However, the APL and BPL Ration Cards were categorised into two new categories once NFSA was established as a legislation in 2013:

Priority Household Ration Cards (PHH) – Under the government’s Targeted Public Distribution System, those who meet the eligibility requirements are given these ration cards (TPDS). Every month, priority households receive 5 Kg of food supplies for each member. Certified ration shops can obtain certain supplies at fixed costs that should not exceed –

Rice costs three rupees per kilogramme, wheat costs two, and coarse grains cost one rupee per kilogramme.

The state government may, however, alter this pricing from time to time.

People must meet the qualifying requirements before they can apply for PHH ration cards. The PHH ration card will only be given to those who fit into the categories listed below.

• a person (greater than 40%) with a disability
• a home without any form of protection.
• transgender individual.
• Households of the Primitive Tribal Group
• a person who relies on charity because they are unable to support themselves.
• household of a pensioner who is a widow.
• Cards for Non-Priority Households (NPHH) –

The remaining individuals are added to the NPHH list of ration cards after choosing those who qualify to receive a PHH ration card. The NFSA does not permit these folks to get subsidised food from the ration shops. They will be able to issue ration cards, but they won’t be able to purchase any food on a subsidised basis.

The Antyodaya (AYY) card is still functional even after the NFSA was released. The AYY ration cards are distributed to those who are regarded as the “poorest of the poor.” It is intended for those whose monthly income is less than 250 INR per person. This group includes labourers, elderly men and women, and unemployed persons. They have a right to receive 35 kg of food. Those who meet the requirements are entitled to receive an AYY ration card.

• the subsistence farmers.
• All families headed by someone who is terminally sick or crippled, is older than 60, is widowed, or is unemployed and receives no assistance from society.
• those without land who work in agriculture.
• all the squalid tribal homes.

Blacksmiths, cobblers, rickshaw pullers, potters, tanners, carpenters, snake charmers, rag pickers, slum dwellers, and fruit vendors are examples of people who make their living by working throughout the day.

Ration cards in colour

There are three different sorts of ration cards based on colour. People are given ration cards with different colours allotted to each category based on their annual income.

People who are considered to be below the poverty level are given the “yellow card.”

Families with annual incomes under 15,000 rupees are given the “orange card.” to Rs. 1 lakh.

Those with annual incomes over Rs. 1 lakh are given the “white card.”

Applying For Ration Card

One could easily apply for ration card through online or offline mode, whichever they are comfortable with. It is necessary to be Indian citizen for applying for ration card. Applicant need to fill up the form and produce all required documents during time of registration. In case if the applicant wish to complete the process through online mode, one has to visit the right website as per their state and complete the application process. Other then ration card there are many other registration that can be handled online, for example shop registration, employment card, sharmik registration etc.